Coin sorting machine



NOV 6, 19:34hI A. E. zlERlcK COIN SORTING MACHINE original Filed Jan.` 3o, 1928 5 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR ,zef'b'c ATTORN EY mi? BY WITNEssEs Nov. 6, 1934. A, E. zlERlcK COIN SORTING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 30, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES INVENTOR Az'. Zrgif.

ATTORNEY Nov., 6, i934. A, E. zin-:RICK

G01N SORTING MACHINE Original Filed JanY 50, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 V f, ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 6, 1934 NETE@ STATES iliht PATNT @FFEQE Application January 30,

1928, Serial No. 250,578

Renewed January 22, 1932 19l Claims.

The device of the presentinvention while primarily intended for sorting coins, may have a wide range of utility for sorting other hat circular articles in accordance with their sizes.

.een object of the invention is to provide a coin sorting machine in which the coins entering the machine from a hopper are centrifugally distributed, mechanically sorted, and centrifugally discharged into their proper receptacles.

A further object of the invention is to provide a coin sorting machine in which the possibility of injury to the machine by jamming of the coins is eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coin sorting machine which may be operated at high speed and handle a maximum number of coins in a minimum amount of time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sorting machine which is small and compact and which may be economically power driven.

Further and more general. objects are to provide a sorting machine of simple, practical construction which will be rugged, durable and eflicient in use, and w -l suited to the requirements of economical manufacture.

With the above noted and otherobjects in View, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims. The invention may be more fully understood from the following description in connection with the laccompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. l is a vertical sectional View through a coin sorting machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan View thereof on the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view on the staggered line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional detail on the line 4 4 of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the defiector plate.

It is to be understood at the outset that the drawings forming part of this application are illustrative of only one embodiment of the invention, that the principles oi the invention are by no means confined to the particular mechanism ro shown, and that the drawings are not to be interpreted in a limiting sense.

As best seen from l, the machine includes a base casting 19 of general dished formation supported on legs ll and provided at its periphery with an outwardly extending flange l2 from which depends an apron 13. A second generally ringshaped casting member 14 includes a peripheral flange 16 screwed or otherwise secured as at l5 to the flange 12 or base casting 10. The walls of the casting 14 rise upwardly and inwardly as at 14a.

(Cl. 13S-3) Casting 14 is open `at its top, save for a series of inwardly extending diametrically opposite arms 17 screwed as at 18 to the top of the casting 14. Any suitable cover means (not shown) may be used in connection with the arms. The arms are preferably integral with an inner depending cirh cular wall member 20. The lower edges of the wall members 19 and 20 are provided with arcuate cut-away portions 2l and 22 respectively, which, as best seen in Fig. 2 are out of alignment with each other, whereby coins discharging laterally from under the wall 19 will strike against the surface of the wall 2O and not pass directly through the slot 22.

Secured as at 23 to the arms 17 and registering with the central ,wall 19 is a hopper member 24 in which the coins to be sorted are introduced. This hopper member includes an integral deiiector 25 at the 'oase of its conicalv hopper portion 26, and an adjustable knife or plate 27 for controlling the passage of coins from the bottom of the hopper. The hopper is also preferably integrally connected to a tray portion 28 in which excess coins may collect; this tray portion being provided with dust openings 29.

The knife 27 may be conveniently adjusted in and out through a slot 3() in the lower cylindrical portion of the hopper wall, and held in adjusted position by a wing nut 31.

Integral with the base casting 10 is a vertically disposed bearing sleeve 32 in which a vertical operating shaft 33 is journalled; this shaft carrying a thrust collar 34 which rests on top of the sleeve 32 and at its lower end carrying a gear wheel 35.

Fixed to turn with the upper end of the shaft 33 is a turntable casting 36, this casting being integral with a conical distributor member 3'7 rotating within the wall 19 and serving to receive the coins which drop from the hopper and deliver them centrifugally through the opening 21 in the wall 19.

The turntable casting 36 includes at its outer portion a turntable proper 38 having a plurality of coin-receiving pockets 39 therein (see Fig. 3). Fixed to the turntable casting 36 in spaced relation to the turntable 38 is an upper turntable plate 40, this plate preferably being secured by screws 41 to the casting, and being provided with an annular series of coin receiving openings 42 (see Fig. 2) therein. Between the turntables 40 and 38 there is interposed a stationary ring 43, this ring being preferably secured by screws 44 to the under face of the flange 16.

The openings 42 in the upper turntable 40 register with the pockets 39 in the lower turntable 38. Coins are normally prevented from dropping through the openings into the pockets by the stationary intermediate plate 43. This plate however at one side is provided with an elongated arcuate slot 45 permitting the coins to drop through the openings in the upper turntable into the pockets in the lower one.

When the machine is rotating, coins from the Spreader 37 pass through the slot 21 into the chamber deiined by the wall 20 and thence through the slot 22 into the chamber defined by the wall 14a of the casting 14. The turntable 40 constitutes the bottom of both of the last mentioned chambers, and when the coins are centrifugally thrown against the wall 14a they tend to nd positions in the openings 42 of the turntable. Coins which come to rest in these openings are carried around until they drop through the slot 45 into one of the pockets 39 of the turntable 38. Excess coins however, are wiped oif in order that only one coin may drop through any openings 42 into a registering pocket 39.

The mechanism for removing excess coins includes a deflector plate 46 shown in perspective in Fig. 6. This deiiector plate is disposed adjacent the surface of the turntable 40 being spring held against a stop pin 46a (see Fig. 1) by a coiled torsional spring 47 arranged on a stud 4S projecting radially from the wall 20 and mounting a crank arm 49 with which the plate 46 is integral. The spring 47 provides the desired flexibility which is necessary to prevent a sudden jamming of coins against the plate 46 from breaking or jamming the machine. Undue coin pressure against the plate 46 causes it to `swing upwardly against the action of its spring 47. The outer edge of the plate 46 oifers a cam surface against which excess coins on the turntable strike and are deflected outwardly. vAny coins not removed by the deflector engage the deflecting edge 50 of a wiper plate 5l which covers the slot 45 in the stationary plate 43. preferably carried on brackets 52 secured to the outer face of the wall 20.

It may be noted that the wall 14a is not of true circular formation, but flares outwardly as a't 53 adjacent the defiector so that coins which are riding on the turntable 40 and which have not found room in one of the openings 42 may pass around the outside of the wiper plate 51 in a position radially outwardly of the openings 42. At the opposite end of the wiper plate 51 however, the wall 14a again curves inwardly as at 54 directing the excess coins back toward the center of the turntable 40 and giving them another opportunity to nd a place in one of the openings 42.

The particular size of the openings 42 is of -Q course determined by the particular class of coins H; Openings 42 therefore are of such diameter that they will conveniently accommodate a half dollar, but two dimes cannot lie side by side within them. It may also be noted that what may be termed the trailing edges of the openings 42 are j provided with inclined camming surfaces 55, so

that if two coins rest one within the other in the openings 42, the upper coins will be displaced by the deflector 49 or the wiper plate 50. The full depth of the openings 42 is equal to that of a half "1; dollar, while less than that of the combined The wiper plate 51 is height of two dimes. The distance between the lower edges of the camming surfaces 55 and the bottoms of the openings 42 is less than the thickness of a dime, so that any stacking of coins within the openings 42 is prevented, since the eiiector 46 or the wiper 50 will engage them and slide them upwardly over the cam surfaces 55.

The pockets 39 in the lower turntable 38 are provided with outwardly opening mouths from which the coins are adapted to be centrifugally discharged. Coin blocker members control the centrifugal discharge of coins from the mouths of pockets 39, these blocker members being illustrated in the present instance as gates 6l slidable in and out of recesses 62 in the walls of the pockets 39. It will be apparent that as these gates are withdrawn, they will gradually open the mouths of the pockets to permit centrifugal discharge of a coin; it being obviously necessary to open the gates wider and wider as larger coins are to be discharged.

In accordance with the present invention, these gate members or some equivalent means are gradually opened and then gradually re-shifted to blocking position in the course of one revolution of the turntable 33. Coin receiving chutes 65 are provided to receive the coins which discharge centrifugally from the mouths of the pockets 39. These coin chutes are arranged in regular order, the firstone being for dimes, the second for pennies, the third for nickels, the fourth for quarters and the fifth for half dollars. Under the wiper plate 51 the gates 61 are in full blocking position, so that no cbfins may escape from the pockets 39. By the time any pocket 39 however, has moved from the wiper plate to a point opposite the dime receiving chute 65, gate 61 will have opened suciently to permit a dime to centrifugally fly out of the pocket and pass into the chute. In like manner upon continued movement of any pocket, its blocker 61 is gradually withdrawn to permit the discharge of a penny, nickel, quarter and half dollar, each one being released at the proper time opposite its proper discharge chute 65.

The chutes 65 preferably are attached to the ange 15 by screws 65e and carry rubber bumpers 65a seen in Fig. 1. Coins leaving the pockets enter the chutes 65 through slots 70 in the flange 12, this flange carrying guiding arms 71 which assist in guiding the discharged coins into their proper chutes.

The particular mechanism which is utilized for controlling the opening and closing of the blocker members 61 is subject to an innite variety of structural variations. The present drawings indicate only one form of lever mechanism for operating the blockers, and it is to be borne in mind that various other forms oi` levers and lever controlling means may be employed.

Describing the illustrated embodiment, levers 75 are pivoted to the under surface of the turntable 38 as by pivot screws 76. The free ends of the levers 75 are slotted as at 77 to receive a stud member 78 depending from the blocker 61 and passed through a slot 79 in the turntable. The intermediate portions of the levers 75 are pivotally connected at 8o to the outer end of levers including two telescoping sections 81 and 82. This arrangement permits the levers to be axially ad justed to take up wear, and the inner ends of the levers are pivotally connected to pins 83 depending from a iiange 84 integral with the upper end of a ring 85 rotating about an eccentric 86 which rits the outside of the sleeve 32 and is Xed thereto in any desired manner.

Preferably the sleeve 32 itself is somewhat eccentric so that the eccentric ring 86 may be rotatably adjusted in order to accurately control the throw of the levers when originally adjusting the machine.

The ring S5 is Xed to rotate with the turntable 38, this rinU carrying a rigid arm 90 secured to the ring by screws 91 (see Fig. 5). 'I'he end of the arm 90 is slidably mounted in a slotted member 92 pivoted on the turntable so that as the turntable rotates it carries with it the ring 85.

Any suitable means may be utilized for imparting motion to the shaft 33. I have illustrated a gear 95 mounted on a shaft 96, the latter being hung in suitable bearings 97 from the base casting. Gears 95 and 35 are in mesh, and the shaft 9-6 carries a pulley 98 receiving power through a belt 99 from a pulley 100 on the drive shaft 101 of a driving motor 102, the latter being also preferably mounted on the base casting of the machine. I have shown the motor mounted on a pendant bracket 103 preferably integral with the motor casing.

As the motor is revolved to rotate the shaft 33 and with it the two turntables and the ring 85, a jogging motion is imparted to the coins in the hopper. One convenient form of mechanism for imparting this motion consists of an arm 105 secured to the interior of the lower cylindrical portion of the hopper and engaged by a disc 100 mounted on the upper end of the shaft 33 at an angle to the longitudinal asis thereof, whereby as the shaft 33 revolves, one end oi the arm 105 is shifted up and down to joggle the coins resting on it.

The operation of the device is substantially as follows. When the motor is set in motion, shaft 33 rotates, carrying with it the turntable casting 36, conical distributor 3'? and turntables 38 and 40. The lower turntable, due to the connecting arm 90 also causes rotation of the ring 85 about the eccentric S5.

As the ring 85 moves about the eccentric, levers 81, 82 are shifted in and out, opening and closing the blockers 6l. The eccentric is so disposed that each blocker reaches full blocking position just before its associated pocket 39 drops its coin through the slot 45. The blocker then gradually opens, permitting the successive discharge of dimes, pennies, nickels, quarters and half dollars; the full open position of one of the blockers being indicated opposite the half dollar chute in Fig. 3. From this `point on, that is to say, throughout approximately half of the revolution of the turntable, the inner ends ci' the levers are being shifted outwardly from the shaft 33 to move the blockers 61 toward full blocking position, the blocker members reaching this position as the pockets 39 again pass under the wiper plate 51.

In some instances, the smaller coins may drop through the slot 45 into the pockets B9 before the blocker members have been moved to full closed position. In order to take care of this possibility, and to prevent loss of coins from the pockets 39 while the latter are under the wiper plate 50 I employ an arcuate guard plate 48a depending from the stationary plate 4B and serving to block the exit of coins from the pockets 39 while these pockets are passing under the slot 45. This guard is illustrated in dotted lines in 3 and in full lines in Fig. 1.

Coins deposited in the tray 28 and hopper 26 drop on to the rotating ccnical spreader 37. Knife 2'7 prevents an unduly rapid rlow of coins while the `logger 105 prevents jamming of coins in the hopper. The spreader 37 throws the coin centrifugally against the wall 19, and they centrifugally escape through the opening 21 and are thrown against the wall 20. After being carried around through approximately one revolution on the turntable within the wall 20, they escape through the opening 22 striking aga-inst the wall section 54 of the wall section 14a, and being guided around by the wall 14a. As the coins which are centrifugally held against the wall 14a are carried around with the turntable, some of them will drop into the openings 42. Excess coins are deflected outwardly either by the deiiector 46 or by the edge 50 of the wiper plate 51, so that no opening 42 will contain more than one coin at the time that it passes under the wiper plate 5l. As the openings 42 pass under the wiper plate 51, coins in the openings drop through the slot 45 into registering pockets 39 in the lower turntable 38 and are carried around in such pockets until released by the blockers 61.

The blockers continuously moving from blocking to full open position will release any coin at its proper chute 65, each pocket returning empty and with itsJ blocker closed to receive a new coin under the wiper plate 51.

Obviously, it is not necessary to use a full half revolution oi the machine for restoring the blockers from open to closed position after the coins have been discharged from the pockets. Many expediente might be resorted to for causing a rapid return movement or idle stroke of the blockers. I might for instance utilize a cam groove of any desired shape for controlling the movements cf the inner ends of the levers 8l, 82 instead of using the eccentric 86.

Obviously, various changes and alterations might be made in the general form and arrangement of the parts described without departing from the invention. Hence I do not wish to limit myself to the details set forth, but shall considermyself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a centrifugal sorting machine, a turntable having a series of coin receiving pockets therein, blocker members controlling the centrifugal discharge of coins from the pockets, and means for moving the blocker members from full blocking to full open position and back again during each revolution of the turntable.

2. In a coin sorting machine, a turntable having pockets, said pockets including adjustable mouths through which the coins are centrifugally discharged, means for opening the mouths of the pockets during a portion of each revolution of the turntable and for closing them during the remainder of each revolution, whereby coins of various sizes are discharged at different predetermined locations from the turntable.

3. In a coin sorting machine, a turntable having pockets, movable blocker members controlling the discharge of coins from the pockets, and means for shifting the blocker members from full blocking to full open position and back again during each revolution of the turntable.

f1. In a coin sorting machine, a turntable having pockets, movable blocker members controlling the discharge of coins from the pockets, means for shifting the blocker members from full blocking to full open position and back again during each revolution of the turntable, a stationary support for the turntable, and coin discharge chutes associated therewith int-o which the mechanically sorted coins are centrifugally discharged.

5. In a coin sorting machine, a turntable having pockets, movable blocker members control- 5 ling the discharge of coins from the pockets, means for shifting the blocker members from full blocking to full open position and back again during each revolution of the turntable, lever trains controlling the movement of the blockers,

l0 and eccentric means lor operating the lever trains.

5. In a coin sorting machine, a turntable having pockets, movable blocker members controlling the discharge of coins from the pockets,

means for shifting the blocker members from full blocking to full open position and back again during each revolution of the turntable, lever trains controlling the movement of the blockers, and eccentric means for operating the lever trains, said means including an eccentrically rotatable ring connected to the inner ends of the lever trains and rotating with the turntable.

7. In a coin sorting machine, a turntable having pockets, movable blocker members controlling the discharge of coins from the pockets, means for shifting the blocker members from full blocking to full open position and back again during each revolution of the turntable, lever trains controlling the movement of the blockers, and eccentric means for operating the lever trains, said means including an eccentrically rotatable ring connected to the inner ends of the lever trains and rotating with the turntable, said ring having a slidable and pivotal driving connection with the turntable.

8. In a coin sorting machine, a turntable having pockets, movable blocker members controlling the discharge of coins from the pockets, means for shifting the blocker members from full block- ,jing to full open position and back again during each revolution of the turntable, lever trains controlling movement or" the blockers, and eccentric means for operating the lever trains, said lever trains being arranged under the turntable and connected to the blocker members through a portion thereof.

9. In a coin sorting machine, a turntable having pockets, movable blocker members controlling the discharge of coins from the pockets, and means for shifting the blocker members from full blocking to full open position and back again during each revolution of the turntable, means for controlling the movement of the blockers, and separate means for operating the said rstmentioned means.

l0. In a coin sorting machine, a turntable having pockets, movable blocker members controlling the discharge of coins from the pockets, means for shifting the blocker members from full block- 60j; ing to full open position and back again during each revolution of the turntable, and means adapted to receive a coin liberated from one of said members and guided along a given path.

1l. In a coin sorting machine, a turntable hav- Aing pockets, movable blocker members controlling the discharge of coins from the pockets, means for shifting the blocker members from full blocking to full open position and back again during each revolution of the turntable, and guiding means arranged to dei-lect the coins after being liberated by the blocking members into selected stations therefor.

. l2. In a coin sorting machine, a turntable having pockets, movable blocker members controlling the discharge of coins from the pockets,

means for shifting the blocker members from full blocking to full open position and back again during each revolution of the turntable, and guiding means arranged at an angle to the direction of motion followed by the coins liberated through the releasing action of the blocker members.

13. In a coin sorting machine, a turntable having pockets, movable blocker members controlling the discharge of coins from the pockets, means for shifting the blocker members from full blocking to full open position and back again during each revolution of the turntable, guiding means arranged to receive the coins liberated from said pockets, and other means delecting the coins coming from said guiding means.

14. In a coin sorting machine, a turntable having outwardly open coin receiving pockets, members controlling the opening of said pockets, and means for moving said members to vary the size of the pocket openings at diierent points of the circumference of the turntable.

l5. In a coin sorting machine, a turntable having open mouthed coin receivingy pockets, members coacting with a side of the latter to control 100 the size of the mouths, and means for operating said pockets to vary the opening of the mouths to liberate coins of various sizes at different points during each revolution of the turntable.

y i6. In a coin sorting machine, a turntable having open mouthed coin receiving pockets, members coacting with said mouths to control the discharge of coins from said pockets, and means for operating said members to vary the opening of the mouths to liberate coins of various sizes o therefrom during each revolution of the turntable.

1'?. A coin separating mechanism including a turn table having a plurality of peripheral iianges, a stationary member cooperating with 3,15 said flanges, said stationary member and said flanges being formed with cooperating coin apertures, the apertures of said stationary member being arcuate and the apertures of the lower one of said flanges being walled in on the bottom 12.-, with an opening towards the periphery for the l egress of the coins in a centrifugal direction, and a second stationary member positioned around the turn table with an upper :face flush with the bottom of the last mentioned apertures, said second stationary member having a guiding wall to the periphery of the turn table for the passage of coins from said openings.

18. In a coin sorting machine, a turn table having thereon a series of coin retainers comprising xed and movable parts, means for varying the spaces between said iixed and movable parts while rotating, said movable parts controlling the discharged coins through said spaces and the distance intermediate of the parts determining the size of coins to be released in a given direction from the turn table.

19. In a coin sorting machine, a turntable having thereon a series of coin retainers comprising fixed and movable parts, means for varying the spaces between said iXed and movable parts during each revolution of the turntable, movable parts controlling. the release of coins according to their sizes, to discharge them into predetermined circular arranged discharge openings according to their respective denominations, said discharge from the coin retainers to be in a com.- mon plane with the aforesaid discharge openings.

AMBROSE E. ZIERICK. l5@ 

